iOS 7

No matter how many iPhones are dished out at Apple's September 10 event, they will all but certainly ship with the latest iOS 7 operating system. The mobile software has been redesigned visually from the ground up with new animations, depth and perspective, and layering. It represents the biggest change to iOS' design since it first launched back in 2007.

(Image: Apple)

Fingerprint scanner

Apple bought biometrics firm AuthenTec in 2012 for $356 million. Since then, the Cupertino, Calif.-based technology giant filed new patents to suggest a sensor could sit behind or near to the home button. Developers also found similar code and application hooks in a recent beta of iOS 7, which will run on the next-generation iPhone. This would be a significant hook for businesses and enterprises who require bring-your-own-device (BYOD) users to ensure secure connections.

(Image via Google Patents)

Colors!

Rumors suggest an "iPhone 5C" is on deck for a September 10 announcement, or at least before the critical December holiday sales period. Leaks have already pointed to a plastic backing that may make production cheaper, and therefore cutting down the ultimate cost of the device to emerging markets. Apple is expected to roll out a range of bright differentiating colors, though this will likely be a feature limited to the low-cost "cheap" phone.

(Image via CNET)

Edge-to-edge display

One of the ways pundits and critics alike have highlighted is the ability to make the iPhone's outer bezel thinner by removing it altogether. Having an edge-to-edge display would cut down nearly an inch in width off the device, making it slimmer in the user's hand. The width of the screen likely won't change to retain backwards compatibility, but the shape of the smartphone can change around it.

(Image via CNET — Credit: MacRumors)

Faster A7 processor

A new processor is all but inevitable in the next iPhone. Despite the ongoing legal spat between Samsung and Apple, it's still likely that its main rival in the smartphone space will produce the next-generation chip. Exactly what it offers, though, will remain under wraps until the highly anticipated phone's announcement.

(Image: iFixit)

Stronger antenna for simultaneous voice, data

A third antenna would support simultaneous voice and data, allowing users to receive emails while they're on the phone. However, following so-called "Antennagate," where a redesigned metal body appeared to cause a dip in cell signal when the iPhone 4 was held in a particular way, Apple may not want to risk any changes to the device's antenna.

(Image: Apple)

Faster system memory

Unlike some phones, the iPhone is quick and responsive, thanks to its powerful memory and processor (more on that later). The iPhone 5 comes with 1GB of system memory, twice that of the iPhone 4S. While the device's memory bandwidth continues to exponentially increase, we can certainly expect faster graphics and on-display response times in the next iPhone.

(Image: iFixit)

Advanced haptic feedback

Apple patented a haptic feedback system — a method of providing physical response to a touch with a subtle micro-vibration, for example — back in 2012, but nothing ever came of it. The next iPhone could come with a feature that could further draw users away from the hardware keyboard crowd.

(Image: U.S. Patents and Trademark Office)

Wireless battery charging

Though it has yet to really take off, some modern phones have launched with wireless charging as its main gimmick. The likelihood of its implementation is slim, but the trend it would set could propel the technology into the mainstream in the smartphone sector.

(Image: Energizer)

A double-digit megapixel camera

The Nokia 1020 packs an impressive 41-megapixels snap from its high-resolution camera. And considering Apple prides its iPhone as being one of the most popular de facto point-and-click cameras on the market — albeit with a high markup — surely the company would want to capitalize on this even more? Expect more megapixels, but not mega-megapixels.

(Image: CNET)

Stronger glass display

Later iterations of the iPhone came with a glass front and back panel. The trouble is this more often than not led to shattered devices where it had been dropped on the floor. The glass used, dubbed Gorilla Glass, developed by Corning, gets stronger in each device iteration. But still, accidents happen and above all else, Apple knows it.

(Image: CNET)

128GB storage

Currently the iPhone comes in three storage capacities: 16GB, 32GB, and 64GB. Apple broke the mold by dishing out an iPad with 128GB of storage. But we have yet to see a version for the iPhone. Many use their iPhones as portable media devices and want to store vast amounts of music and video content, but are restricted by the storage space.

(Image: Apple)

Retina-plus display

The high-resolution Retina display packs an incredible 326 pixels per inch (ppi), making it one of the most densely displayed smartphones screens on the market. The point is that you can't distinguish from a reasonable arms-length distance the pixels on the display, unlike older models, giving it a crisp and clear-cut output. Can Apple push out a Retina-plus display to challenge some of its rivals and competitors on the market today?

(Image: CNET)

Better battery life

One of the biggest complaints about the iPhone is its lack of battery power. The iPhone 4 and 4S usually lasts about six to eight hours on average, depending on use, while iPhone 5 handsets last a little longer, despite having to power a larger screen and 4G LTE networking. Would you prefer a slightly thicker, heavier iPhone if it meant a better battery?

(Image: CNET)

Matte, sun-resistant screen

Any iPhone or iPad user will know the frustration of trying to watch a video with the sun or a bright light blazing onto the screen, making it a near impossible task at times. Though Apple should stick with glass as part of it overall design choice, a layer of matte film would make the viewing experience far better.

Retina-plus display

The high-resolution Retina display packs an incredible 326 pixels per inch (ppi), making it one of the most densely displayed smartphones screens on the market. The point is that you can't distinguish from a reasonable arms-length distance the pixels on the display, unlike older models, giving it a crisp and clear-cut output. Can Apple push out a Retina-plus display to challenge some of its rivals and competitors on the market today?